Officials don’t de-annex land
The message from McMinnville City Hall Tuesday seemed to be that it’s not over until it’s over.
City officials failed to reach a majority consensus on a proposal that would have provided for de-annexation of areas located between McMinnville and Morrison.
Alderman Patti Nunley, disturbed by the Board of Mayor and Alderman’s vote, referred to an apparent agreement at a Public Chapter 1101 Coordinating Committee meeting May 30, where it was understood officials from McMinnville and Morrison should de-annex.
Abstaining from the vote Tuesday were Aldermen Jimmy Bonner and Donald Hillis. Hillis said throughout the annexation process, which dates back more than a year, he has abstained. Bonner listed a family interest in the affected area as the reason he abstained.
Aldermen were considering de-annexation of what is known as Area 5 and Area 6, located between Gillespie Road and Todd Lane. Those areas are defined as county planned growth areas, not McMinnville or Morrison’s urban growth boundaries, on the 1101 map that has been approved.
On Area 5, Vice Mayor Billy Wood and Alderman Rickey Jones voted no to de-annexation. Nunley voted yes, with Bonner and Hillis abstaining. On Area 6, Wood and Nunley voted yes, with Jones voting no and Bonner and Hillis abstaining. Alderman Rickey Minton was not present.
The de-annexation solution was offered as a way for county-wide cooperation on the Public Chapter 1101 law, also known as the 20-year growth plan, that had a June 30 deadline for approval.
City officials later said they did not have enough time to provide public notices for de-annexation, but on June 13 approved the map by resolution, along with Morrison’s and Warren County’s governments. However, their June 13 resolution considered the potentially annexed areas as issues separate from the 1101 map.
Nunley urged officials then and in a subsequent meetings to proceed with de-annexation. Other officials pointed out the understanding was not an official vote of the board members.
After McMinnville, Morrison and Warren County approved the map June 13, it was forwarded to the state for its approval and was approved June 21, County Executive Carol Hamblen said. The validity and future of the 1101 plan is unclear at this point.